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The Northeast Organic Farming Association's Organic Land Care Program invites lawn care professionals to its the Organic Lawn Care Certificate Course on Jan. 24 at Manchester Community College in Manchester and on Feb. 26 at Three Rivers Community College in Norwich. This one-day course is a thorough introduction to managing grass and lawns organically and will enable professionals and environmentalists to market and communicate this information with clients and municipalities.

The course sections will be taught by Chip Osborne, president and founder of Osborne Organics, LLC, Judy Preston, the Long Island Sound Coordinator with the Connecticut Sea Grant Program, and Frank Crandall, owner of Frank Crandall Horticultural Solutions. Two instructors from community colleges will be presenting as well; Diba Khan-Bureau is Professor of Civil/Environmental Engineering Technology at Three Rivers Community College and Tom Barry is an adjunct faculty member from Naugatuck Valley Community College.

Judy Preston will teach about the environmental impact of conventional lawn care practices with a focus on Long Island Sound. Diba Khan-Bureau will instruct on the effects these practices have on fresh water systems in Connecticut, the importance of soil health and the basics of soil structure and nutrient cycling.

Attendees will then receive four hours of instruction on the best practices of organic lawn care. Chip Osborn will instruct about soil testing to reduce excess nutrients, addressing insects, weeds and diseases and communicating organic lawn care to clients and Tom Barry will teach cultural lawn practices. Horticultural and business consultant Frank Crandall, will conclude the day with information on how to effectively price and market organic lawn care.

Registration is $80 and includes a new 60-page manual to organic lawn care developed by the NOFA Organic Land Care Program, 6"x6" signs from our Organic Lawns and Yards Campaign for yards, and marketing materials. For more information or to register, visit organiclandcare.net or call the NOFA Organic Land Care Office at 203-888-5146. Those interested can also enter their name to win free registration by filling out an online survey by January 5th at the website listed above.

The NOFA Organic Land Care Program has worked to extend organic principles to yards, gardens and playing fields since 1999. To search for a NOFA accredited organic land care professional visit http://www.organiclandcare.net/aolcp-search. This program is made possible by the funding from the Long Island Sound Study and the National Fish and Wildlife Service, and with the help of Three Rivers Community College and Manchester Community College, partners in NOFA Organic Land Care's Lawn Care Certificate Program.